NEW YORK, NY – KFC has been accused of racism after a suspect Australian ad made its way to the United States.

NEW YORK, NY – KFC has been accused of racism after a suspect Australian ad made its way to the United States.

The Australian KFC ad has stirred up controversy in the U.S. after it was posted on YouTube. The ad features a white man looking uncomfortable in an all-black sports audience.

He turns to the camera and asks, “Need a tip when you’re stuck in an awkward situation?” He then begins to pass out fried chicken to the surrounding crowd.

Americans have seen it as reference to the racial stereotype that all black people eat fried chicken. However, KFC Australia has defended the ad, saying it was being misinterpreted in a different culture.

“It is a light-hearted reference to the West Indian cricket team,” KFC said. “The ad was reproduced online in the US without KFC’s permission, where we are told a culturally-based stereotype exists, leading to the incorrect assertion of racism.”

Australia and the West Indies are rival cricket teams, which lends some credence to KFC’s defense.